Heavy rains in China's southwest have killed at least 19 people and left 20 missing, with tens of thousands of people evacuated due to flooding, state media reported on Monday.

Heavy rains in China's southwest have killed at least 19 people and left 20 missing, with tens of thousands of people evacuated due to flooding, state media reported on Monday.

The China News Service reported that 12 people had died in the city of Chongqing, three in neighbouring Sichuan province and another four in Shaanxi province. Some 160,000 people had been evacuated from Shaanxi alone with another 85,000 from Sichuan.

The rains struck the region throughout Saturday, adding to downpours that hit Sichuan the previous five days.

Footage broadcast on China Central Television showed soldiers rescuing residents trapped in apartment buildings surrounded by high waters, including a woman and child holding on to ropes as they were lowered to a boat.